Pediatric gastroenterologist Graciela Wetzler, M.D., explains the causes of infant vomiting -- and how to alleviate it

As a pediatric gastroenterologist, the majority of calls I receive are from worried parents who are
concerned whether their baby's spit-up is normal. The baby may regurgitate once a day or after every
feeding. In fact, 40 percent of healthy babies spit up more than once a day.

Usually, he or she is content and is gaining weight -- we call them "happy spitters" -- but the parents
are nervous wrecks. They complain that their clothing is stained, their carpets smell, and they're worried
that something is seriously wrong with the baby's digestive system. Although in rare instances spit-up may
be a sign of a real problem, in most cases it is a normal, benign, transient symptom.

To understand the difference between normal spit-up and a more serious problem, a short lesson
in infant nutrition and anatomy:

After a baby swallows food (breast milk, formula or solid food), the food travels through the esophagus
into the stomach and then to the small intestine. There is a physiologic valve, called the lower esophageal
sphincter, which prevents food from coming back into the esophagus from the stomach. For many healthy
babies, this valve relaxes at the wrong time, causing regurgitation. Some babies, especially premature
ones, have delayed gastric emptying (I call this "lazy stomach"), which aggravates the problem.

For the vast majority of healthy babies, the spit-up symptom peaks by four months of age and normally
resolves by the first birthday. As long as your baby appears healthy and is gaining weight, you can be
reassured that she will outgrow the problem.

Here are a few tips to help an infant who spits up:

Avoid overfeeding.

Smaller and more frequent feedings will empty the stomach faster.

Minimize intake of air during feeding.

If the bottle is too low, the baby can swallow air, causing gas and crying.

Don't jiggle the baby during and after feeding.

Too much movement may cause reflux.

Sit her in an upright position after feeding.

Sitting and lying on the back makes reflux worse. Hold the baby in your arms as much as you can.

Elevate the crib at a 30-degree angle.

I suggest using a book under the legs at the head of the crib. Do not use pillows, since this can
cause suffocation.

Avoid exposure to tobacco smoke.

This relaxes the esophageal sphincter.

Thicken formula with rice cereal.

Add 1 tablespoon of rice cereal for every 2 ounces of formula and cross-cut the nipple to facilitate
the flow of this mixture. Although this may improve reflux, it can cause excessive gas and constipation.
Consult your doctor before trying.

When these lifestyle measures do not improve the symptom of spit-up and the regurgitation problem is
severe, it may be gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This condition is associated with:

Gagging or choking, which can be dangerous in young babies since they may stop breathing and turn blue

If you're worried your baby's spit-up isn't normal and might be caused by GERD, consult with your
doctor. He or she may recommend medical therapies including antacids, drugs to improve gastric emptying,
or a hypoallergenic formula.